As the video call continued,
Hope's tone suddenly shifted from playful to serious, drawing everyone's attention.
Her earlier grin faded as she looked straight at Jojo.
"Okay, jokes aside—Jojo, I called because my school's headmaster asked me to pass a message to you."
Jojo leaned in slightly, his expression focused now.
"____"
"What kind of message?"
"He wants to meet you. In person,"
Hope said calmly.
"He said it's very important. Something… only you can help with."
That piqued everyone's interest.
"Did he say what it's about?"
Jojo asked, eyes narrowing.
Hope shook her head.
"Only that it's urgent. He looked… tense."
Inadu stepped forward, arms crossed.
"____"
"Could be a trap."
But Jojo shook his head slowly.
"I don't think so."
Rosalie raised an eyebrow.
"Why not? Sounds like exactly the kind of situation we avoid unless we're the ones in control."
Jojo gave a knowing smirk.
Smirk~
While internally monologing.
'Because I know the plot. If this is happening now, then it's either the beginning of the main storyline… or something tied to his daughters—Lizzie and Josie.'
But—
As Alice suddenly froze mid-conversation,
everyone around her—
including Jojo, Rosalie, and Inadu—
fell silent.
They recognised the signs.
Her wide eyes, still body, and slightly parted lips meant only one thing:
A vision.
Moments later,
"____"
Alice gasped sharply and blinked back to the present, panic flashing in her golden eyes.
Gasp~
"Jojo… Rosalie… we have a problem."
Jojo leaned forward.
"What did you see?"
Alice didn't waste a second.
"A small group from the Volturi just entered Forks. They're here to meet with Carlisle."
Rosalie's eyes widened.
"Now? Of all times?"
She hissed.
"Bella's pregnant and staying here. The child, the Quileute tribe, Jojo—this is a powder keg waiting to blow!"
Jojo's expression darkened, his mind already racing.
"Then I'm coming with you. If they step out of line—"
But Rosalie suddenly moved between him and the door, placing a hand on his chest firmly.
"No. You showing up might escalate things further. We don't know what they know, but if Aro learns about you, it won't just be about the baby anymore. It'll be about what you are, and the balance you threaten."
Alice nodded, still pale from the vision.
"She's right. This needs finesse. Let Carlisle handle the diplomatic front. Rosalie and I will secure Bella with others, make sure she's hidden."
Inadu folded her arms, her lips thin.
"I don't like being sidelined, but fine. Jojo, if something goes wrong, I'll tear through those creeps myself."
Jojo sighed but finally nodded.
Sigh~
"Alright. But I want to hear the conversation... Alice, take one of my comms."
Rosalie turned, her eyes already blazing with determination.
"We'll handle this."
As Rosalie and Alice vanished from Jojo's mansion in a blur of supernatural speed,
they moved like silent wind through the woods, their expressions tense and minds focused.
Swoosh~ Swoosh~
Within moments, they reached the Cullen mansion.
Cullen Mansion...
The quiet ambience of the house was a stark contrast to the urgency they brought with them.
Inside, Edward was sitting on the couch, gently massaging Bella's swollen feet, his face calm but watchful.
Bella, visibly tired but smiling softly, leaned back against the cushions, clearly appreciating the moment of peace.
In the kitchen,
Esme was lovingly preparing a warm meal for Bella, and the aroma of the food filled the air—
Though none of the vampires needed it, it made the house feel more human for Bella's sake.
That calm shattered as Alice called out, her voice sharp:
"Everyone, now!"
Her tone left no room for hesitation.
Edward's head snapped up instantly, reading Alice's thoughts before she even finished her sentence.
Swoosh~
With a blur,
He was standing beside her, tension already forming in his face.
One by one, the rest of the family appeared—
Carlisle, Emmett, Jasper, and Edyth.
While Esme arrived after wiping her hands quickly on a towel.
Rosalie joined them, her face unreadable but alert.
Seeing Alice's grim expression, everyone's mood shifted.
Even Emmett, usually the most laid-back, frowned seriously.
Carlisle stepped forward, voice calm but firm:
"Alice, what happned?"
Alice didn't sugarcoat it.
"A Volturi delegation has entered Forks. They're saying they've come for a meeting with you, Carlisle. But the timing is too perfect—it's when Bella is here, pregnant… and Jojo is in town."
Gasps and low murmurs broke out instantly.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Edward's fists clenched.
"They don't make casual visits. Not when there is no interest involved."
Rosalie added quickly:
"Bella needs to be hidden—immediately. If they see her like this... Things would surely escalate."
Esme looked to Carlisle, clearly concerned.
"Do you think Aro knows about the child?"
Carlisle shook his head slowly.
"He might suspect something else… but we need to be careful. We need to stall, keep Bella out of sight, and handle this with care."
Jasper's voice was low but decisive.
"Do we call Jojo in?"
Alice responded quickly.
"No. Rosalie and I agreed—it might escalate things. If Aro sees him, it'll no longer be about the baby. It'll become about him. And that risks everything."
Carlisle nodded.
Nod~
"Then let's prepare. We'll welcome them as formally as we can. Hide Bella. Wait, take her to Jojo's place."
As everyone moved into action, Edward took Bella with him, his expression unreadable—
But rage simmered beneath the surface.
The Volturi were coming… and if things were not going well, there would definitely be a conflict will be born.
"____"
Carlisle looked around the living room, his brow furrowed.
"Where's Jess?"
He asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Emmett, who had been unusually quiet, looked up from where he stood near Jasper and answered in a low, calm voice,
"She's on a mission with Jenny. DMC business. Something about a cursed hospital in Nevada. They left town two days ago—should be back soon."
Carlisle nodded slowly, processing the information.
Nod~
"So that explains the silence on her end."
He turned and moved toward the stairs.
He has been in the hospital, a case he had been handling—
A car accident case—
had kept him away overnight.
He had only just arrived back home,
hoping for a quiet moment with Esme before catching up with the rest of the family.
But fate had other plans.
Just as Carlisle reached the top of the stairs,
Alice had returned—
With the heavy news of the Volturi's arrival.
The timing couldn't have been worse.
Meanwhile,
Under the thick canopy of tall pines and the ghostly mist rolling across the forest floor, five figures moved in silent unity.
Their steps made no sound, and the low-hanging fog seemed to part for them.
Two women and three men, all dressed in the unmistakable Volturi robes, their faces hidden beneath deep hoods of shadowed crimson.
The air around them was unnaturally still.
These were envoys, not executioners—
yet.
Sent directly under orders from Caius and Aro, they had a dual purpose:
-->To verify a concerning rumour that Carlisle Cullen and his coven were aligning themselves with witches and Blood-Suckers.
The Volturi had caught whispers of shape-shifters, spellcasters, and even a fire monster mingling under Cullen protection.
If true, it could suggest dangerous alliances that threatened the ancient vampire order's fragile balance.
-->To formally extend an invitation to Alice Cullen, the clairvoyant, whose abilities Aro coveted deeply.
He had long expressed interest in her, hoping she might one day willingly join their ranks.
This time, they were ordered to persuade—
diplomatically if possible, but forcefully if necessary.
The tallest of the five, a man named Marcusiel, raised a gloved hand to halt the group.
His companion, Selene, pulled down her hood slightly, revealing pale, flawless skin and piercing eyes that scanned the forest.
"We're near,"
She said softly.
"I can smell the Cullens trail. Recent. Likely from the girl… Rosalie."
The others nodded.
One of the men—
Lucan, a quiet brute with a talent for silencing hearts—
gave a rare smirk.
"Let's hope they're cooperative. Aro prefers willing hands. I prefer breaking fingers."
Vespera, the second woman, gave him a side glance.
"You'll behave. For now. We're here to talk… for now."
Marcusiel narrowed his eyes, feeling the tension rising.
"Stay on mission. We approach them now."
Without another word, they vanished into the mist—
heading for the Cullen mansion.
Meanwhile –
Cullen Mansion...
As the Volturi envoys closed in through the darkened forest,
the Cullens had already acted swiftly and strategically.
Carlisle made the immediate call:
"We cannot risk Bella or the child being seen. Rosalie—take her to Jojo's mansion."
Rosalie didn't argue.
She and Esme quickly packed a few essentials, while Edward gently helped Bella to her feet, whispering reassurances.
Though clearly worried, Bella nodded, trusting their judgment.
Within moments, she and Rosalie took the car and left the mansion.
Back at the mansion,
Carlisle gathered the rest of the family and made the next crucial decision—
to contact the Quileute tribe.
Although the alliance between them and the Quileute tribe had been improved recently, they need to be cautious.
The situation required mutual discretion.
So they gave a warning to them.
"If even one of you transforms near the Volturi, it could bring the full force of their law on all of us."
At first, the Quileute elders resisted—
especially those younger blood.
They weren't fond of being told to stand down while a troublesome cold one might enter their territory.
But Jacob, caught in the middle, tied both to his pack and to Bella—
spoke up for unity.
"Just give it a few days. Let them talk and leave. Then we can go back to being paranoid and edgy."
Eventually, they agreed.
No patrols. No transformations.
Absolute silence.
The tribe would appear as normal humans for the duration of the Volturi's visit.
But tension ran thick on both sides.
Everyone knew this was only a temporary fix.
If the Volturi saw through the lies, or smelled even a whiff of Bella or her unborn child…
War was certain.
Moments Later
The soft crunch of forest soil under fine leather boots signalled their arrival.
From the edge of the woods, five figures in flowing black cloaks emerged like shadows—two women and three men, faces veiled by deep hoods that shrouded all emotion.
The centre figure stepped forward, his posture regal but relaxed, eyes gleaming with the arrogance of power.
Carlisle Cullen, flanked by Alice, Edward, Emmett, Esme, Edyth and Jasper, stood in front of the Cullen home.
Their stance was calm yet guarded—
a picture of unity.
The lead envoy gave a smirk beneath his hood, now visible.
Smirk~
"So this is the gifted family Aro finds so... interesting,"
He said, gaze flicking to Alice.
"Now I understand his obsession."
Alice didn't flinch.
She stared back coolly.
"____"
Carlisle stepped forward.
"We received word you'd be visiting. Please—state your business."
The envoy's smile deepened, his voice smoother than silk.
"Aro has some... concerns. There are rumours—disturbing ones—that your coven has been consorting with witches and other bloodsuckers outside of Volturi knowledge. That you're hiding a monster... even working with those smelly wolves."
He let the last word hang in the air like poison.
"____"
"We are here to determine if there's truth to these whispers. And…"
—his eyes returned to Alice—
"extend a personal invitation."
Alice's expression remained unreadable.
Carlisle responded firmly.
"We have nothing to hide. But I must remind you, the Quileute tribe has a treaty with us. Any action against them would be considered a violation."
A second male envoy stepped forward now, voice colder.
"Treaties made with humans do not bind the Volturi. We're here under Aro's direct order. We will stay only as long as necessary… but we will get our answers."
The atmosphere turned tense.
Edward's fists tightened at his sides.
Jasper subtly shifted to a defensive stance.
Emmett's eyes narrowed—
He was ready for anything.
Carlisle remained calm, but inwardly, he knew: one wrong word, one wrong step, and Forks would become a battlefield.
The already tense atmosphere thickened.
One of the Volturi men—
A broad-shouldered figure with pale grey eyes that gleamed with cruelty—
Let out a slow, mocking chuckle.
Chuckle~
He took a deliberate step closer, inhaling deeply through his nose as if savouring the forest air.
"____"
"I must admit... this fresh air does wonders,"
He said with a grin.
Grin~
"But I'm starting to feel famished. Carlisle,"
—he turned toward the doctor with a false politeness—
"Would you be so kind as to direct me to the nearest high-quality meal? Preferably someone... young, healthy, maybe with a hint of fear?"
Before Carlisle could answer, one of the women—
taller, with sharp red eyes glowing beneath her hood—
snorted and added in a tone dripping with contempt:
"Oh, don't waste your time asking the vegetarians. They'd probably offer you a salad and a prescription for guilt."
The Volturi contingent chuckled among themselves.
Chuckle~ Chuckle~
"____"
Carlisle's jaw tightened imperceptibly, but he didn't rise to the bait.
With decades of restraint behind his every word, he replied smoothly:
"We do not feed on humans. We value life and choose a different path. You're welcome to stay under the condition that no lives are harmed while you're in our territory."
Alice folded her arms, eyes cold.
Emmett stepped slightly forward, but a small gesture from Jasper held him back.
The smirking male Volturi took note of their discipline and narrowed his eyes.
"Very noble,"
He said slowly,
"or very boring. I wonder if your pet wolves would be just as forgiving if things go... sideways. If they really stays here..."
Carlisle held his ground, voice calm but firm.
"This land is under watch. I suggest you stay focused on your purpose here: your questions for Aro. Not your appetites."
A long silence followed.
"____"
Then, with a subtle nod, the lead Volturi stepped back—
seemingly satisfied, but everyone knew it was far from over.
Carlisle watched the dark-cloaked Volturi disappear into the woods,
their presence still lingering like a foul stench in the air.
Only when the last flicker of their robes vanished did Alice speak, her voice unusually sharp and foreboding.
"If they touch a human,"
Alice said, turning to face him fully, her golden eyes intense,
"Jojo will make his move. He won't care if it's Aro's orders or some rogue agent testing boundaries."
Everyone went silent.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Esme, standing beside Carlisle, clutched his hand.
Jasper's posture grew more rigid, his instincts flaring at the tension in the air.
Emmett cracked his knuckles, clearly not opposed to a fight, while Edward's gaze shifted toward the trees, in deep thought.
Carlisle nodded solemnly.
Nod~
"I know. And that's exactly what they want—to provoke a reaction. To see if we break character. Or worse, if Jojo acts, they'll try to use it as justification to move against him, or all of us."
"They're walking a fine line."
Alice said,
"But Jojo's fuse is short when it comes to innocent lives."
"He's not just a deterrent anymore."
Jasper muttered.
"He's a line in the sand."
Carlisle looked around at his family and exhaled deeply.
Sigh~
"Then we walk carefully. We protect Bella. We don't give them the excuse they're looking for as much as possible. And we pray... that Jojo doesn't have to get involved."
A long pause followed, the calm before whatever storm the Volturi might bring next.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N): Guys, New Chapter will be updated tomorrow. Due to not being uploaded yesterday.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review and power stone!!!